Scotch College

VCE: Music

Rationale

The VCE Music Performance course offers students opportunities to develop their skills as a performing musician, and to develop related skills that will enable a greater understanding of music, therefore enhancing their performance ability as well as their appreciation and enjoyment of music.

Structure

Unit 1: Music Performance

Unit 2: Music Performance and Analysis

Unit 3: Solo Performance

Unit 4: Solo Performance

The Course focuses on achieving flexibility in music performance and includes outcomes relating to music language and music craft. Through these outcomes students develop knowledge of the structure of music language and skills in aural perception and notation. Students will also undertake activities involving composing, arranging or improvising.

The Units 3 and 4 Coursework Involves:

A solo recital exam 50 per cent

An aural and written exam 25 per cent

School assessed coursework (SACs) 25 per cent

Entry

There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. However, to undertake Units 3 and 4 Solo Performance, students should be competent players or singers. A brief consultation with a member of the music staff is recommended if there are any doubts. Students must undertake Unit 3 prior to undertaking Unit 4. As part of the course, all students must perform in an appropriate ensemble. Students may use a different instrument for the ensemble component from their solo instrument. Students who undertake Units 3 and 4 in year 11 are expected to continue performing actively in their music ensembles in Year 12.

Prescribed Works

In Units 1 and 2: there are no prescribed works.

In Units 3 and 4 Solo Performance works are selected from the Prescribed List of Notated Solo Works, available on line only: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/studies/musicsolo/musicpersoloindex.html

Equipment

Students should provide their own musical instrument (except for piano and organ).

Assessment

Units 1 and 2: Solo Performance

Perspectives on Performance

Aural Studies

Music Language Skills

Unit 3: School Assessed Coursework 15 per cent

Unit 4: School Assessed Coursework 10 per cent

Aural and Written Examination 25 per cent

Examination 50 per cent